Building structure and coupling profile associated therewith

Abstract

U-shaped coupling profiles hold in a building structure a floating ceiling or they constitute a grating to which sound-absorbing components or lighting fittings can be secured. A number of the coupling profiles are, in addition, adapted to supply or conduct away air or to receive electric leads or to hold walls in order to render the space beneath the coupling profiles technically suitable for a given use of said space. In order that the areas of air inlet and outlet and the areas of the electric connections can be better chosen in accordance with the intended use of the space, each of the plurality of coupling profiles is appropriate for receiving in common electric leads and at least one air control.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. In a building structure, a suspended grid system comprising a plurality of elongate, identical coupling profiles, each of substantially channel-shaped section open at the bottom, each coupling profile having a series of spaced openings in its top, an air regulator device freely axially positioned within the length of at least one coupling profile at a desired location and cooperating with the openings at said location to pass conditioned air at said desired location while leaving those openings beyond said location free to pass return air, a conditioned air inlet cabinet mounted on top of said one coupling profile at said desired location, said cabinet being open along its bottom to pass conditioned air through said openings at said desired location to and through said air regulator device, said one coupling profile carrying electric leads adjacent the open bottom thereof, and at least one electrical connection device freely axially positioned along the length of said one coupling profile at a particular location and cooperating with the electrical leads at such particular location to provide electrical outlet connection thereat, the air supply regulator being formed by a roller of sound-insulating material, in which a plurality of air flow channels of circular section is provided, the diameter of said section being so small that the air emerges in the form of a turbulent stream. 
     
     
       2. A coupling profile as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said roller is made from cork. 
     
     
       3. In a building structure, a suspended grid system comprising a plurality of elongate coupling profiles, each coupling profile being of inverted channel configuration and including spaced side wall portions and a top, said top being provided with a series of closely spaced openings along its length and said side wall portions immediately below said top projecting inwardly toward each other but terminating in spaced relation to each other to provide a retainer space extending throughout the length of the coupling profile, said side wall portions immediately below the retainer space projecting inwardly toward each other but terminating in spaced relation to each other to provide inwardly facing retainer channels extending throughout the length of the coupling profile; an air regulator device which is of small length compared to the length of the one coupling profile and slidably received in said retainer space thereof so as to be positioned at any desired location along the length of the one coupling profile;   a first electric cable strip received in the retainer channel of one leg portion of said one coupling profile and a second electric cable strip received in the retainer channel of the other leg portion of said one coupling profile, each cable strip comprising an insulator strip and at least one conductor carried by the insulator strip, each insulator strip and conductor extending the length of the one coupling profile and each insulator strip having a slot extending throughout its length and exposing the associated conductor therewithin; and   an electrical outlet connector disposed between said leg portions and bridging between said conductors whereby an electrical connection may be made at any desired location along the length of the one coupling profile; and   an air inlet body selectively mounted on top of said one coupling profile at said location of the air regulator device.   
     
     
       4. In a suspended ceiling system which includes a grid network for supporting ceiling panels, a grid module comprising: an elongate member adapted to have its ends disposed in abutting relation to other like members together to define the grid network, said member having opposite side wall means defining an inverted channel and including upper wall means joining said side wall means, said upper wall means having a series of regularly spaced vent/access openings along its length, the inner surfaces of said upper wall means and adjacent portions of said side wall means defining a generally semi-circular main channel running the full length of said member and with which said openings directly communicate, the inner surfaces of said side wall means defining mutually opposed retainer channels running the full length of said member immediately below the main channel and on opposite sides thereof, said member including support means extending along the opposite sides of said upper wall means and along the full length of said member for positioning suspension members at any locations along the length of said member, an air plenum casing disposed along the length of said member and supported at a desired location thereon by said support means, an air distribution device slidably received in said main channel in alignment therein immediately below said plenum casing, and a multi-conductor electrical conductor strip received in each of said retainer channels, said strips having continuous slots exposing the conductors whereby electrical connectors bridging between conductor pairs likewise may be positioned at any location along the length of said member.   
     
     
       5. In a building structure having an overhead air supply conduit, an overhead air return conduit, electrical supply mains and further electrical conductors such as telephone conductors, a suspended ceiling system which includes a grid network, disposed below said air supply and return conduits, for supporting ceiling panels, said grid network comprising a plurality of elongate members of similar construction and disposed in abutting relation to define the grid network, each member having opposite side wall means defining an inverted channel and including upper wall means joining said side wall means, said upper wall means having a series of regularly spaced vent/access openings along its length, the inner surfaces of said upper wall means and adjacent portions of said side wall means defining a generally semi-circular main channel running the full length of said member and with which said openings directly communicate, the inner surfaces of said side wall means defining mutually opposed retainer channels running the full length of said member immediately below the main channel and on opposite sides thereof, each member also including support means for securing an air plenum thereto in any longitudinal location along its length, at least one air distribution plenum secured to a member of the grid network in communication with the main channel thereof through a plurality of said openings at the location of such plenum and conduit means extending laterally of the plenum chamber into connection with said air supply conduit for delivering air to the plenum, a cylindrical air distribution device slidably received in the main channel of that member upon which said air supply plenum is mounted and in alignment with said location thereof for diffusing air received from the air supply plenum, an air return plenum secured to a member of the grid network in communication with the main channel thereof through a plurality of said openings at the location of such air return plenum and conduit means extending laterally of the air plenum into connection with said air return conduit for returning air thereto, a pair of multi-conductor electrical connection tapes received in the opposing retainer channels of at least one member of said grid network, the conductors of which are connected to said electrical system, and a plurality of electrical devices including connector means bridging between conductors of said tapes and movably positioned at desired locations along the length of said one member for disposition at desired locations within the building structure. 
     
     
       6. In a building structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said air distribution device is of a length commensurate with the spacing of those openings through which said air supply plenum whereby said air distribution device in cooperation with such openings intercepts all of the air supplied by such plenum. 
     
     
       7. In a suspended ceiling system which includes a grid network for supporting ceiling panels, a grid module comprising: an elongate member adapted to have its ends disposed in abutting relation to other like members together to define the grid network, said member having opposite side walls and a top wall defining an inverted channel, said top wall having a series of regularly spaced openings along its length, the inner surfaces of said top wall means defining a generally semi-circular main channel running the full length of said member and with which said openings directly communicate, the inner surfaces of said side wall means defining mutually opposed retainer channels running the full length of said member immediately below the main channel and on opposite sides thereof, and said member including support means extending along opposite sides of said top wall means and running the full length of the member; and   at least a pair of multi-conductor electrical tapes received in the opposing retainer channels of a member of said grid network and at least electrical connection devices bridging between conductors of said tapes at a desired location along the length of said member, at least one air supply plenum engaging said support means of a member of said grid network and having a discharge mouth spanning a number of said openings whereby to discharge air therethrough into the associated main channel, and a cylindrical air distribution device slidably positioned in such associated main channel to bridge said number of openings to control the flow of air in a downward direction.